Sheet delivery mechanism



Aug. 10, 1965 R. E. LINDEMANN Filed April 12, 1962 SHEET DELIVERYMECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet l Hrm/PNEY 1965 R. E. LINDEMANN 3,199,865

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 W W I N"I.

Arno? E75 i 1965 R. E. LINDEMANN 3,199,865

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jul-mm "Iil @2, "I!" IIH H [36 J HI Q INVENTOR. w 3 fioamr'. ZI/VOEMANN Q, I W71.

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SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 BMW WW1955 R. E. LINDEMANN 3,199,865

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed April 12, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Kim/aver Aug. 10, 1965 R. E. LINDEMANN SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM 9Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 12, 1962 FEW 1.

mlunmljl I INVENTOR. Rose-n6 Z//v EMA/WV Ma/W, J

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W firm NEXS United States Patent 0 3 .l99,86 BER /Elli? MECHANESM RobertE. Lindernan, Medma, @hio, assignor to Harrislntert ype Corporation,Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation oi Filed Apr. 12, 1%2, Ser. No. 136,993

19 Qlairns. {Cl 271-44) The present invention relates to a deliverymechanism in which a sheet may be selectively dropped or carried past apile position and, more particularly, to such a deliv ry mechanismwherein the sheet is carried past the pile position for inspectionpurposes.

in certain types of delivery mechanisms in which the sheet beingdelivered can be selectively dropped at a pile position or carried pastthe pile position, problems are encountered in operating sheet guidemeans located at the pile position between different positions whereinthe s eet is to be selectively dropped or carried by the pile position.Commonly, sheet guide means in the form of stripper fingers are locatedon the remote side of the pile with respect to the sheet as it is movedto the pile and the stripper fingers are moved from a position above thesheet path wherein the fingers are positioned when the sheet is to bedropped at the pile position to a position eel w the sheet path wherethey are positioned when the sheet is to be carried past the pileposition. After a sheet has been carried past the pile position, thefinger must be returned to its position above the path prior to thearrival of the following sheet if the latter is to be dropped at thepile position. if the tail of the preceding sheet which was carried pastthe pile position has not cleared the sheet guide fingers, there isdanger that the stripper fingers will pierce the sheet when they areraised to their upper position for stripping sheets. This isparticularly true in delivery mechanisms wherein the direction ofmovement of the conveyor is reversed immediately after the pile positionso that a sheet being carried past the pile position is moving through areversing section of the conveyor before the tail the sheet clears thegu :e fingers. in the apparatus disco-sod herein, when the length sheetbeing delivered, the tail edge of a sheet going past the delivery pilewill overlap the lead ng edge of the following sheet, thus making timpossible for the fingers to move to their upper po ons withoutpiercing and tearing the first shee A ri important object of the presentinvention is to provide a new and improved delivery mechanism in which asheet being carried past a pile has the tail portion thereof ced so thatthe tail clears the sheet guide means at advanced time to minimize thepossibility that the tail sheet might be pierced by the sheet guidemeans eing operated to their pile delivery position.

.other object of the present invention is to provide a d *ery me hardsmin which a conveyor carries a sheet past a pile post ion for inspectionand the sheet is moved outwardly of a reversing section of the conveyorimmedihe pile position to effect advancing of the re sheet to minimizethe danger that the tail of be pierced by sheet guide means moving inwhich the sheet is guided past a pile re delivery position wherein thefollowing sheet is to be guided to the pile.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved delivery mechanism in which air is directed against a sheet tocause the tail portion of the sheet to be moved to clear sheet guidemeans at a pile posi on past which the sheet is moving so that the tailportion clears the pile position and sheet guide means disposed over thepile position at an advanced time in the cycle or" the deliverymechanism enabling the sheet guide means to be moved to a position forguiding the following sheet to the pile with little or no danger ofpiercing the tail of the sheet moving past the pile position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved delivery mechanism in which a switch is operated as a sheetapproaches a pile position to selectively move a sheet release cam andsheet guide means between a position for causing the sheet to move tothe pile to respective positions for ettecting a bypassing of the pileby the sheet and in which the operation of the switch by the followingsheet approaching the pile position causes the return of the cam andsheet guide means to their positions for effecting a dropping of thefollowing sheet at the pile position, and initiates operation or" meansfor advancing the tail portion of the sheet bypassing the pile.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a new andimproved delivery mechanism wherein a cam which is moved to cause asheet being delivered to bypass a pile position is supported forswinging movement about an axis extending parallel to the path of sheetmovement past the pile position and is swung'about the axis when movedto its inactive position for causing a sheet to bypass the pileposition, the cam preferably being supported for longitudinal movementalong the axis to adjust the cam for various types of sheets beingdelivered.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision or" anew and improved delivery mechanism for delivering sheets to a pile orpast the pile and wherein stripper fingers for guiding a sheet to thepile are supported on a rockshait which is movable bewteen positions forguiding the sheets being delivered to the pile and a position whereinthe sheets being delivered are guided past the pile, the roclrshaftbeing connected to move a cam for releasing the sheets at the pileposition between active and inactive positions upon the rocking of theshaft.

Further objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof madewith reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, and in which:

PEG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a printing pressdelivery mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on section line 22 ofPEG. 5 and illustrating the position of a sheet before the air blast iseflective to move the sheet:

EEG. 3 is a partial end elevational view of the delivery mechanism ofFlG. 1 looking at the delivery mechanism from the right;

EEG. 4 is a partial ectional view, similar to FIG. 2, illustrating theposition of a sheet after the air blast has moved the sheet;

PlG. 5 is a partial top view of the delivery mechanism shown in 1 withparts omitted;

PEG. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on the section line 66 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the section line 7-7of FF. 3;

FIG. 8 is a partial end view with parts omitted of the deliverymechanism of FIG. 1 looking at the delivery mechanism from the left;

FlG. 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on the section line 9-9of FIG. 8;

FlG. 10 is a sectional view with parts omitted of the -elivery mechanismshown in FIG. 1 taken approximately on section line lllltl of FIG. 5;

P16. 11 is a sectional view with parts omitted of the delivery mechanismshown in FIG. 5 taken approximately on section line :L111 of FIGS. 5 and10;

3 FIG. 12 is a partial side view of the delivery mechanism shown in FIG.3 looking at the delivery mechanism of FIG. 3 from the right and havingthe side frame member broken away;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken approximately on section line1313 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a portion of the electrical circuitryused in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

The present invention is embodied in a press and delivery mechanismshown in FIG. 1. The press is a multicolor printing press having firstand second printing units 16 and 11, respectively, and a deliverymechanism B which receives the printed sheets from the press, the sheetsbeing designated S in the drawings, and stacks the sheets onto adelivery elevator 123.

The printing units are preferably conventional, rotary, ofliset,lithographic sheet-printing units. The printing unit is shown ascomprising a plate cylinder 12, a blanket cylinder 13, and an impressioncylinder 14. An inker 15 is located above the plate cylinder 12 and adampener 16 is located to the right of the plate cylinder 12, as viewedin FIG. 1, to act on the plate cylinder 12 in advance of the inker.Printing unit 11 is shown as comprising a plate cylinder 22, a blanketcylinder 23, and an impression cylinder 24. An inker 25 is located abovethe plate cylinder 22 and a dampener 26 is located to the right, asviewed in FIG. 1, of the inker 25 to act on the plate cylinder inadvance of the inker.

The sheets to be printed by the printing units are fed down a feedboard36 to the impression cylinder 14 of the printing unit 10. The impressioncylinder carries the sheets through the first printing station at theprint line between the blanket and impression cylinders 13, 14. Adouble-size transfer cylinder 31 receives the sheets from the impressioncylinder 14 after they pass through the first printing station andtransfers them to the impression cylinder 24 of the printing unit 11. Adoublesize transfer cylinder is one having twice the diameter of theimpression cylinders of the press. The impression cylinder 24 carriesthe sheets through a second printing station at the printline of theblanket cylinder 23 and the printed sheets are then taken by a deliveryconveyor 33 which passes around a sheet delivery drum 29 disposedadjacent the impression cylinder 24.

The conveyor 33 comprises a plurality of spaced gripper assemblies 34supported between endless chains as, 47 having upper and lower runsdefining the delivery and return runs of the conveyor. The conveyor 33passes around the sheet delivery drum 29 and extends from the sheetdelivery drum 29 under a work platform 35 defining an operators stationC, rise vertically after passing under the platform 35' to provide agenerally vertical portion 33a and then extends horizontally through ahorizontal portion 331) over the pile elevator 123. The lower runs ofthe endless chains 46, 47 define the delivery run of the conveyor andthe sheets taken from the impression cylinder 24 are moved along thelower runs of the chains 46, 47 to a position over the pile elevator 123where they are released and allowed to drop onto the pile elevator. Theupper runs of the chains 46, 47 provide the return run of the conveyorfor returning the gripper assemblies. The gripper assemblies 34- arespaced from each other along the chains 46, 47 a distance which isrelated to the circumference of cylinder 24 so that the gripperassemblies will be successively moved into position to take successivesheets from the impression cylinder 24.

The platform 35 is at about approximately the same level as the sheetdeliverydrum 29 and is disposed below the level of the cylinders of theprinting unit 11. The platform 35 forms a work station for the pressmanand the pressman may, from the work station, make press adjustments,such as adjustments of the inkers 11 and 15. In the press illustrated,the printing unit 16 is at a higher vertical elevation than the printingunit 11 so that the plate cylinder and the inker of the printing unitit) are above the level of the inker of the printing unit 11. Theprinting units are disposed close together and, in the illustratedpress, it is possible for a pressman at the operators station C to makeadjustments to both the print ing unit 16 and the printing unit 11 fromthe station C; A hinged step 36 extending across the press may beprovided above the platform 35, as is shown in FIG. 1. As is showntherein, the hinged step 36 is supported by the frame structure of thedelivery mechanism and may be swung vertically upwardly to an inactive,out of-the-way position.

The delivery mechanism B has a frame including two vertically extendingside frame members 49 and 41 which support an upper frame m mber 4-2extending therebetween. The chains 46, 47 are adjacent the side members2%, 41, respectively, and pass around pulley members 44, 45,respectively, journaled on a rod S3, the member 44 being locatedadjacent side frame member 4%, and member as being located adjacent sideframe member 41. The chains 46, 47 are also guided by pulley member 45and by other pulleys, not shown, for guiding the chains 46 and 47through their paths. The pulleys 44, 4S reverse the direction ofmovement of the chains 46, 47 and this part of the chain conveyor may betermed a reversing section which joins the delivery run and the returnrun of the conveyor 33.

The chains 46, 47 are driven through their endless path by drivesprockets, not shown, on the ends of the sheet delivery drum 29.Suitable tracks or guides comprising bar members 50 are provided, wherenecessary, for guiding the movement of chains 46, 47. The bar members 50are positioned to engage top and bottom surfaces of the chains and aresupported by suitable supporting structures 51 which are suitablysecured to the side frames 49, 41. Referring to FIG. 8, by way ofexample, the lower bar member 50 for chain 46 is there shown bolted tothe supporting structure 51.

The gripper assemblies 34, as stated earlier, are supported by chains46, 47 and are spaced apart along the chains a distance which is relatedto the circumference of the impression cylinder 24. Each sheet gripperas sembly 34 is adapted to receive the leading edge of a sheet on theimpression cylinder of printing unit 11 in a conventional manner and togrip the sheet to cause it to move with the assembly. The constructionand operation of all of the sheet gripper assemblies 34 are identicaland only one of the gripper assemblies will be described, but on thedrawings the same reference numerals are used to designate correspondingparts of all of the sheet gripper assemblies.

Each sheet gripper assembly 34 includes a gripper bar 61 which extendsbetween the chains 46, 47 and which has spaced gripper posts 61athereon. A plurality of gripper fingers 62 corresponding in number andspacing to the gripper posts are along the bar and are mounted on a rod76. The fingers 62 are rotatable on the rod and are biased intoengagement with abut'ments 62a fixed to the rod by individual springs63. The rod 70 is rotatable to move the fingers 62 into engagement withthe posts 61a to clamp and grip a sheet therebetwcen.

The rod 76 is biased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.2 to urge the fingers into gripping position by a conventional tensionspring mechanism 75. When the fingers 62 engage the sheet, the springs63 will give on continued rotation of the rod '70. The tension springmechanism includes a coil spring 76 supported at one end by gripper bar61 and at the other end by rod 79 to bias the rod to move the gripperfingers 62 into gripping position in a conventional manner. Uponrotation of rod 79 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, thegripper fingers 62 will be moved about the axis of rod 70 against thebias of spring 76 to release the sheet held thereby. A bifurcated arm84? is fixedly secured to shaft 7% on the end thereof adjacent sideframe 41) and supports a roller 81 which is adapted to be moveddownwardly by a trip cam $5 which rotates shaft 7b in a clockwisedirection and causes the gripper fingers 62 to rock and release thesheet held thereby.

The trip cam 95 has a cam surface 96 which moves roller 81 downwardly torelease the gripper assemblies and is located between the delivery andreturn runs of chains as, 47 adjacent the left end thereof as viewed inFIG. 1 at a release point D. The trip cam Q5 depends from a generallycylindrical member 97. The support member 97 is rototably and slidablymounted on a rod 16%, one end of which is fixedly supported in a supportmember 51 and the other end is supported by the rod 43 which has apassageway in which the rod 18% is inserted. The member 97 is providedwith a peripheral groove 1 22 intermediate its ends and gear teeth 1b?)located on the cylindrical surface thereof on one side of the groove182'. Specifically, the gear teeth 1 93 are located on the portion ofmember 97 which lies above groove as viewed in FIG. 5. The trip cam 95is normally held, as wfil be described hereinbelow, in a positionwherein it is located in the path of movement of the roll rs 81 of thegripper assemblies to cause cam surface to move the rollers 81downwardly as the rollers pass the trip cam aS to release the sheetsheld by the gripper assemblies. The cam surface 96 will normally engagethe roller 81 of each gripper assembly as the gripper assembly passesthereby to release the sheet held taereby.

The member 97 is slidable along the rod 1%, on which the member 97 ismounted, so that the location of the cam surface 96 can be varied tocause the sheets to be released by the gripper assemblies 34 atdifierent points along the path of movement of the chains 45 and 47. Themember $7 is slid along tie rod 1-3 in response to rotation of shaftTit? which extends parallel to side frame member and is rotatablysupported by suitable support members secured to the side frame Theright end of shaft 115 as viewed in FIG. 9, is threaded, while the leftend projects slightly beyond the end frame member and carries a knob 111which serves as a means for rotating the shaft 119. The threaded end ofthe rod has a sleeve 1T2 threaded thereon and one end of a suitable yokemember 113 is cast integral with the sleeve and projects therefrom in adirection perpendicular to shaft 111). The other end of member 113 ispositioned in groove 1522, formed in the member 97. Rotation of the knob111 causes the shaft ill) to rotate and the sleeve 112 is moved alongthe shaft, thus causing the yoke member 113 to slide the support member97 along shaft 9, thereby adjusting the position of the trip camrelative to the chains 46 and 47.

A plurality of stripper fingers 12% are positioned at release point Dslightly below the level of the lower run of chains 46, 17 and arespaced transverse to the di rcction of movement of the chains adjacentthe trip member in the up position, as shown in FIG. 9, the finger tipsare above the incoming sheets, but below the bar 61. The stripperfingers are fixedly mounted on shaft 121 which is rotatably supported atits opposite ends by the side frame members 40, for a purpose to bedescribed hereinbelow. The stripper fingers 12d normally are positionedas shown in full lines in FIG. 9, and when in this position, extend overthe upper surface of a sheet being advanced to strip and guide the sheetfrom the gripper assembly 3 upon release thereof to cause the sheet todrop onto a pile support 122 of the delivery elevator 123 and the pilesupport is lowered as the sheets are dropped thereon in a conventionalmanner to maintain the top of the pile at approximately the same height.

As a sheet drops onto the pile support 122 the leading edge thereofengages end gate fingers 124 which normally extend vertically downwardlyfrom shaft 125 on which they are mounted. The end gate fingers functionto guide the sheet into position on the pile support 122,

thereby forming a pile of aligned sheets. The opposite ends of shaft arerotatably mounted in the side frame housings ll), 41 and may be rotatedby a conventional crank mechanism, not shown, to rotate the end gatefingers clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, into substantially a horizontalposition to facilitate removal of a sheet from the pile support 1.22 ifthe operator is at this end of the press.

When the operator of the press desires to inspect a printed sheet todetermine the quality of the printing and whether or not adjustment ofthe printing units 19 and T1 is necessary, the delivery mechanism B maybe operated to deliver a sheet to the operator at the operators stationC so that the operator need not leave the operators station and take asheet from the pile on the pile support 122 for inspection thereof.

in order for the delivery unit B to deliver a printed sheet to theoperators station C, the trip cam 95 is moved out of the path ofmovement of roller 81 on the gripper assembly approaching release pointD and the stripper fingers 123 are lowered out of the path of movementof the sheet carried thereby, thus permitting the chains 4:5, 47 tocarry the sheet beyond release point D along the aforementionedreversing run at the left end of the delivery mechanism as viewed inFIG. 1, and along the return run of the chains 4d, 47. The operator cancause the trip cam 95 to be moved out of the path of movement of theroller 81 by energizing a solenoid coil 13% of a double-acting solenoid131 suported in any suitable manner adjacent the side frame member 41near the left end thereof as viewed in FIG. 5. The solenoid coil 1363can be energized by the operator from the operators station C bydepressing a switch 132. on a control panel 1.33 located at theoperators station.

Actuation of the switch 132 on the control panel 133 causes energizationof the solenoid coil 13% when a switch is actuated. The circuit involvedwill be described in detail hereinbelow. The switch 135 is actuated rata predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the apparatus by anactuating member 137 fixedly secured to a shaft 138 which is oscillatedin timed relation to the drive to the chains 46, 57 and thus the coil13% is ener- 'zed when the chains 46, 47 are at a predetermined point intheir path of movement, namely, when a gripper as sembly 34 supported bythe chains as, 47 is approaching trip cam 5 5. As shown in FIG. 12, theswitch 135 is fixed to a slide member 135 and has a rod 14d securedthereto. The rod let) has a knob 141 which the operator may grip to pullrod l itl to the left, as viewed in FIG. 12, to slide the switch 135 outof the path of movement of actuating member T37. Of couse, if the switchis moved, the coil 13% of the solenoid 131 cannot be actuated, as willbe apparent from the detailed description of the electrical circuithereinbelow.

Energization of coil 130 of solenoid 131 causes the armature 15%) of thesolenoid to move vertically upward relative to the frame 151 of thesolenoid. A rack 154 is connected to the portion of the armature 15%which extends below the frame 151. When the armature 15% moves upwardly,the rack T54 moves upwardly as well. The upward movement of the rack 154is guided by a pair of rollers 155 suitably mounted adjacent the rack toengage one side thereof. The rack 15 i meshes with a sector gear 156which is fixedly secured to the shaft 121 on which the stripper fingers32th are fixedly supported. The upward movement of the rack 154 and thesector gear 156 will cause the shaft 121 to rotate in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 11 and cause the stripper fingers 1252 topivot downwardly to the dotted position shown in FIG. 9. In thisposition, the stripper fingers are below the path of movement of thesheet, and thus the sheet can move past the stripper fingers.

Rotation of the shaft 121 also actuates a mechanism, generallydesignated tea, for swinging trip cam 95 out of the path of movement ofthe roller 81 of the oncoming gripper assembly 34 to an inactiveposition.

, tive positions. on the side of shaft 165 opposite to the gear 1%7 toThe mechanism 169 includes a link 161 fixedly secured to the shaft 121adjacent the end of the shaft 121 which is supported by the side framemember 49 and extending in a direction parallel to side frame member 46.The lower end of a vertically extending link 162 is secured to the link161 at a point remote from where link 161 is secured to shaft 121. Oneend of a horizontally extending bifurcated link member 163 which extendsin a.

direction parallel to the extension of shaft 121 is pivotally connectedto the upper end of link 162. The other end secured to the side frame40. A sector gear 167 is fixedly secured to shaft 165 and meshes withthe gear teeth 103 formed on member 97.

The sector gear 167 is formed on the end of a rocker arm 167a fixed toshaft 165 for rocking movement thereby so that the rocking of the arm167a oscillates the member 97 and cam'95 between their active and inac-The rocker arm has an extension 167!) which a counterbalancing spring171 is connected. The tension of the counterbalancing spring isincreased by movement of the arm 167a to move the cam 95 to its inactiveposition.

When the solenoid 139 is energized, the shaft 121 will rotate in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9, to its position where fingers121 are lowered; the sector gear 167 will swing in a counterclockwisedirection,

as viewed in FIG. 8; and the trip cam 95 will rotate in a clockwisedirection about rod 100 to the dot-dash position shown in FIG. 8. Whenthe trip cam 95 is located in the dot-dash. position shown in FIG. 8, itwill not engage the roller 81 which releases the gripper assembly 34from engagement with the sheet being fed. Thus,'the sheet rather thanbeing dropped onto the pile support 122 will be conveyed around theafore-mentioned reversing section and along the return run of theconveyor.

As the sheet is conveyed around the reversing section of the conveyor,the sheet is free to move inwardly of stripper fingers cannot be movedto their positions for effecting a dropping of the sheet approaching thepile without piercing the sheet moving through the reversing section ofthe conveyor.

In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the sheet moving around thepulleys 44, 45 has the tail thereof ad vanced to clear the fingers 120,at an advanced time, by sheet advancing means which, in the illustratedembodiment comprises an air blast. The advancing of the tail of thesheet moving through the reversing section enables the fingers to beraised and the cam 95 moved to its active position so that the followingsheet can be dropped at the pile position.

The air blast is directed against the sheet by a suitable air supplymechanism 172. The air supply mechanism 172, in the preferred andillustrated embodiment, comprises a plurality of air nozzles 173suitably supported by the rod 43 and spaced therealong to direct airoutwardly from the left end of the delivery mechanism B as viewed inFIG. 1. Each air nozzle 173 is connected by. suitable supply conduits orhoses 174 to a main supply conduit or pipe 175 which. is connected to asuitable air supply.

The air blast preferably is timed to come on after the sheet moving pastthe pile position has moved into the reversing section of the deliveryconveyor and the leading edge of the sheet is above the air blast nozzle173.

' fingers 187, as viewed in FIG. 6.

When the air blast comes on, it is directed against the inner side ofthe sheet by the air blast nozzles to move the sheet outwardly away fromthe reversing section against a guard 176. The air blast remains on fora predetermined portion of the cycle, as will be explained hereinafter.The turning on and olf of the air blast and the operation of the tripcam and fingers 12.13 are controlled by the operation of the switchafter the pressrnan has conditioned the switch by operating pushbuttonswitch 132. The particular manner in which the switch 135 controls theair blast, the trip cam and the fingers 120 is described in'detailhereinafter.

As the sheet is conveyed along the return run of the chains 46, 67, itstarts down the vertical portion of the conveyor and the trailing end ofa sheet tends to drape downwardly, as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality ofcloth tapes 177 are suitably supported between the delivery run andreturn run of the chains 16 and 47 and spaced transverse to thedirection of movement of the chains 46 and 47 to support the drapedsheet and prevent the sheet from interfering with the delivery run ofthe chains 46 and 47.

The tapes 177 are in the form of a loop and are trained around a bar 178located, as shown in FIG. 6, at the top of the aforementioned verticalportion 33a of the chains 46, 47 and supported at its opposite ends byside frame members 40, 41. The other ends of the tapes 177 are trainedaround a pipe, not shown, suitably supported at its opposite ends by theside frames 49 and 41.

As the gripper bar assemblies 34 carry sheets along the return run ofthe chains 46 and 47 and as the gripper bar assemblies 34 begin to movedownwardly on the aforementioned vertical section of the return run ofthe conveyor chains the rollers 31 of the gripper assemblies 34 engage atrip earn suitably supported by side frame member 40. The trip cam 185has a cam surface 186 which when the rollers are engaged thereby causesthe rollers to pivot in a direction toward the gripper bars 61, namely,in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6. This causes thegripper assemblies to release the sheet which is being conveyed.

The sheets released by the gripper assemblies 34 are stripped therefromby a plurality of stripper fingers 187. The stripper fingers 187 extendvertically and are spaced transverse to the direction of movement of thechains 46, 47. The lower end of each stripper finger 187 is suitablysecured to a plate 188 located below trip cam 185, and

which extends between and is supported by the side frames 41 41. Theupper end of each stripper finger 187 is located above the trip 185 andin position to engage the underside of the sheet being conveyed to guidethe sheet outwardly from the gripper assemblies 34 when the latter arereleased.

The lower ends of the stripper fingers 187 are located above areceptacle-like structure 199 which receives a sheet released by tripcam 185. The structure 198 is formed by'two plates 191, 192 extendingalong the side of the operators station adjacent the delivery mechanism.The plate 11 extends between the side frame members 4t 41 and theopposite ends thereof are secured to the innerside of the side framemembers. The plate 192 extends parallel to plate 191and is secured atits opposite ends to the outer edge of the side frame members 46, 41.The plate 192, as shown in FIG. 7, does not extend vertically as far asdoes the plate 191, for a purpose to be described hereinbelow. Thebottom of the receptacle-like structure 199 is formed by platform 35which extends under the structure 190.

As a' sheet moves toward the receptacle-like structure 1% after itsrelease, it is also guided by means of a cage comprising a plurality ofguide fingers 1% which extend verticallyand are spaced outwardly fromthe stripper The fingers 195 and fingers 187 actually form a guidechannel through which the sheet moves. The topmost ends of the guidefingers 195 aresecured'to a rod 196 which is rotatably supported at itsopposite ends in bar members 197 and 198, which in turn are fixedlysecured to bar 178. The opposite sides of rod 1% rest on the bar members59 of the guides or tracks for chains 46, 4'7. The lower ends of theguide fingers 1% are secured to a bar which extends transversely of thedirection of movement of the chains do, 47 and which may be gripped bythe operator and raised to pivot the guide fingers 19:5 about the axisof the rod 3% to provide access to and facilitate removal of a longsheet from the receptacle 1?. Since the plate 1% does not eX- tendvertically as far as plate 192, the sheet in the receptacle T3?) iseasily available to the operator.

.Vhen a sheet is removed from the receptacle by the operator, it isplaced on a suitable inspection table Zi'il, which is pr vided by thetop frame member 42 of the delivery mechanism B. When the sheet ispositioned on the inspection table 261, the operator standing at theoperators station can inspect the sheet carefully to determine whatadjustments should be made in the printing units. The operator may thenmake these adjustments while standing at the operators station.

As hereinhefore mentioned, the operator may, without leaving theoperators station C, inspect a printed sheet the station C by depressingswitch 132., to close the contacts thereof. The closing of the contactsof switch 152. causes a circuit to be completed from power line 21dthrough normally closed contacts lf.l of a relay 2.11, a conductor 212,now closed contacts of switch 332, a conductor 223, and a relay coil topower line 215. Energization of the relay coil 21 5 causes normally opencontacts 21 and 2l2 thereof to close. Closing of the contacts 2l4-rcauses a holding circuit to be established around the v tch whichmaintains the solenoid coil 2%; energize even though the operatorreleases switch 132.

The contacts 2 of relay coil are in a circuit w th switch 1:15 which isclosed by the actuating member 1 at a predetermined point in the cycleof the deliver mechanism when a sheet is approaching the pile position.first closing of switch 135 after the contacts 214-2 are closed causesthe stripper fingers lid to drop and the cam 95 to move to its inactiveposition. When the switch is first closed after the making of contacts21 5-41, a circuit is completed from the power line 219 through nowclosed contacts 2l-2 of the relay 21 a conductor 22%, now closedcontacts of the switch 335, a conductor 223, and a stepping relay 224 topower line The stepping relay 224 is of a conventional type havtwocontact arms or sliders 23%, 231 which are moved to successive positionseach time the relay is energized and d e-energized and which engage arespective Contact at each position. The contacts for each slider aredesignated in the same manner with H indicat ng the home or normalposition of the sliders, and the positions to which the sliders arestepped in sequence to cause a sheet to be delivered to the operatorsstation are numbered 1, 2, 3, indicating the first, second and thirdpositions to which the sliders are successively moved. Energization ofthe relay coil 224 causes the relay to be cocked and when tie-energized,the sliders 239, 231 step to their next position. in addition to theslider contacts, the relay 22d has normally open contacts 224-1 whichclose when the relay 224 is cocked. The contacts 22.44; are in serieswith the slider 23%? which, when in its home position, is in engagementwith contact H which has no electrical connection thereto.

The switch 135 is only momentarily closed by the actuating member 137and when the switch 155 opens, t e circuit to the stepping relay 224 isbroken and the te; ping relay is d e-energized causing the sliders 23%2-31 to move from their H contacts to engage their respective No. 1contacts. Movement of the slider into engagemen-t with its No. 1 contactperforms no function at this time since normally open contacts 2444i ofrelay 22$ id are open upon de-energization of relay 224, therebybreaking the circuit which includes slider 23%.

Movement of slider 231 into engagement with its No. 1 contact effectsthe moving of the trip cam to its inactive position and the lowering ofthe fingers 12%. This engagement of slider 231 with its No. 1 contactcompletes a circuit from power line 21% through slider 233., conductor24E: and relay coil 241. Energization of relay coil 241 causes itscontacts 2 :14 thereof to close and energize solenoid 13% to operatetrip cam 95 so that it is swung out of the path of movement of roller 81of the gripper assembly approachirn the trip cam 95' and to lower thestripper fingers 12%), so that the sheet approaching the pile positionwill move past the pile position rather than being dropped onto the pileelevator support 122.

As the next or first succeeding sheet after the sheet to be inspectedapproaches the trip cam 95, the switch will again be closed by actuatingmember 137. Closing of switch i135 completes a circuit through thestepping relay which causes the stepping relay to be energized.Energization of the stepping relay 224 causes the relay to become cockedand causes normally open contacts 22441 thereof to close. Closing of thecontacts 224-1 of stepping relay 22-4 with the slider in engagement withthe No. 1 contact causes the energization or" relay coils 247, 243. Therelay coil 247 is an air blast relay and the energization thereofactuates the air blast mechanism 172 in a conventional manner as byeffecting the energization or" a solenoid valve to supply air to thepipe 175 and to direct a blast of air against the sheet to be inspected,as described above. Energization or" the relay coil which is a holdingrelay, causes normally closed contacts 2484. thereof to close. Closingof the relay contacts 248-1 completes a holding circuit for the relays24-7, 248 independently of slider 23% through normally closed contacts2ll2 of relay 21ft, conductor 25%, now closed contacts 248-1 of relay2%, conductor 246 and relay coil 247 to the power line 215.

he energization of the coil 248, therefore, causes a holding circuit tobe establ shed for the relay 248 and for the relay 2 37 which maintainsthe air blast mechanism H 2 in operation even though the contacts 2244.of the relay 2" are opened upon tle-energization of steping relay .ienswitch 135 is opened by movement of the actuating n ember 337 beyondswitch 135. Consequently, the air blast mechanism 172 is actuated todirect air agar" st the sheet to be inspected when the switch 135 isclosed by the actuating member 137 as the first sheet following thesheet to be inspected is approaching the trip carn From the abovedescription, it will be understood that when the switch 135 is againopened to tie-energize the stepping relay 22 the sliders 23% and 231thereof will be moved from their No. 1 contacts into engagement withtheir No. 2 contacts. Engagement of the slider 239 with its No. 2contact perform no function at this time, since contacts 22 5- which arein series circuit with the slider 23%, are opened.

Movement of er 231 from engagement with Lin? its No. 1 contact breaksthe circuit to the relay coil 241 for energizing soleno d coil 33%holding the trip cam and fingers in their sheet bypass position.Movement of tne slider 231 into engagement with its No. 2 contactcompletes a circuit for energizing a relay coil for completing a circuitto energize the solenoid and operate trip cam 5 to its active position.Energization of the relay coil causes the normally open contacts 255-1thereof to close and complete a circuit from the power line Zltl tosolenoid 17a) through a conductor 255. As above described, the trailingend or the sheet to be inspected has been moved by the air blast mecha--ism 172 out of the path of movement of the fingers 12:3. Energmtion ofthe relay 2' '5 is timed so that the trip cam 95 will be moved back intoits operative position in time to cause the first sheet following thesheet is located in engagement with its No. 3 contact.

to be inspected to be dropped onto the pile elevator 123.

The next time the switch 135 is closed by the actuating member 137, asthe second sheet succeeding the sheet to be inspected approaches thetrip cam 95, the stepping relay 224 will again be energized, therebycocking the relay. The cocking of the relay 224 closes the contacts224-1 thereof. The closing of the contacts 224-1 of the relay 224performs no function at this time, since the closing of these contactscompletes a circuit to the relay coils 247, 28, which are at this timeenergized by the holding circuit including contacts 248-1, as abovedescribed. When the switch 135 is opened by the movement of theactuating member 137, the stepping relay 224 will be de-energized, thusstepping the sliders 23d and I 231 from their No. 2 contacts intoengagement with their No. 3 contacts. Movement of the slider 236 fromits No. 2 contact to its No. 3 contact performs no function, since theNo. 3 contact of slider 232 has no electrical connection thereto butmerely makes the slider 23% ineifective to energize the relay coils 247,

The movement of the slider 231 from its No. 2 contact into engagementwith its No. 3 contact first breaks the circuit for relay coil 255 foreffecting energization of solenoid 17$ for raising the stripper fingersand moving the trip cam 95 to its active position. The de-energizationof the solenoid coil 171) leaves the stripper fingers 120 and the tripcam 95 in their positions for delivering sheets to the pile elevator.When the slider 231 engages its No. 3 contact, a circuit is completed toenergize a relay coil 211. Energization of the relay coil 211 causes thenormally closed contacts 211-1 and 211-2 thereof to open and thenormally open contacts 211-3 thereof to close. Opening of the relaycontacts 211-2 breaks the holding circuit for the relay coils 2 57 and24-8. De-energization of relay coil 247 de-actuates the air blastmechanism 172 and thus stops the blast of air issuing from the nozzles173. De-energization of the holding relay coil 248 causes the normallyopen contacts 248-1 thereof to return to their open position.

Opening of the contacts 211-1 of the relay coil 211 breaks the holdingcircuit for the relay 214. De-energization of the relay 214 opens thecontacts 214-1 but this performs no function at this time since thesecontacts are in the circuit which was broken by opening of contacts211-1 of relay 211. The opening of contacts 214-2 of relay 214 performsno function, at this time, since contacts 211-3 provide a holdingcircuit for relay 224 around contacts 214-2 and are closed prior to theopening of contacts 214-2. Thus, an energizing circuit for the relay 214is provided which is independent of contacts 214-2.

The switch 135 will again be closed by the actuating member 137 as thethird sheet succeeding the sheet selected for inspection approaches thetrip cam 95 to energize the relay coil 214 through the contacts 211-3.

Energization of the stepping relay 224 cocks the relay and closescontacts 224-1 thereof. Closing of contacts 224-1 thereof performs nofunction since the slider 230 When the actuating member 237 moves offthe switch 135, the switch will open, causing de-energization of therelay 224- and causing the sliders 231i and 231 to move from their No. 3contacts to their home position into engagement with their H contacts.Movement of the slider 236 from its No. 3 contact to its home positionperforms no electrical function. Movement of the slider 231 from it No.3 contact to its home position breaks the circuit to the relay coil 211.De-energization of the relay coil 211 causes normally closed contacts211-1 and 211-2 thereof to return to their normally closed positions andthe fourth heet succeeding the sheet to be inspected may "5.2 bedirected to the operators station so that the operator may inspect it.Thus, every fourth sheet may be directed to the operators station forinspection.

Thus it can be seen that in the illustrated and preferred embodiment, asheet is selected for inspection by depress ing the control pushbuttonswitch 132 which conditions the switch 135 to be effective so that whenthe switch 135 is next momentarily closed when a sheet is approachingthe pile position, the stepping relay 214 steps one step to cause theenergization of solenoid 139 to raise the stripper lingers and swing therelease trip cam to an inactive position. The sheet which wasapproaching the pile position when the switch was operated to step therelay will, therefore, pass the pile position and move into thereversing section of the conveyor. As the leading edge thereof reversesits direction, the point in the delivery cycle will again be reachedWhere the switch 135 is closed to again energize the stepping relay 214.The energization of the stepping relay 214 effects the turning on of heair blast and the de-energization thereof steps the stepping relay oneadditional step to de-energize the solenoid 131) for operating andholding the trip cam and stripper fingers in their sheet bypass positionand to energize the relay 255 to cause the energization of solenoid 176for returning the trip cam and the stripper fingers to their positionfor dropping a sheet at the pile. The air blast continue until thestepping relay 214 is stepped once more to energize relay 211 foreffecting a de-energization of the air blast relay 247. The nextstepping of the relay 21; returns it to its Home position and alsoeffects a return of the circuit to its condition wherein the pushbuttonswitch 132 must again be actuated before the operation of switch 135will effect an energization of the stepping relay 214.

it will be understood that insofar as the broader aspects of the presentinvention are concerned, the tail of the sheet might be advanced bymeans other than an air blast.

It should be understood that, while the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention has been described in considerable detail, it is myintention to cover hereby all constructions, modifications, andarrangements which fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention and the appended claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip a sheet andmove through the delivery run to move the sheet along a sheet path to arelease position at the end of the del very run and over a pile to whichsheets are to be delivered, first means at the exit end of said deliveryrun for causing a sheet to be delivered to said pile or to selectivelybypass said pile and move through said reversing section comprisingsheet guide means movable between a pile delivery position above saidpath and a bypass position below said path, the tail of a sheet beingcarried through said reversing section clearing said sheet guide meansdue to movement imparted to it by said gripper means at a predeterminedtime in the cycle of the mechanism, means for actuating said first meansin timed relationship to the approach of a sheet to said pile position,and sheet advancing means adjacent the exit end of said delivery run foradvancing the tail of a sheet being carried past said pile position tocause the tail portion thereof to clear said sheet guide means at anadvanced time in the cycle of the mechanism.

2. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip the leadingedge of a sheet and move it along a sheet path adjacent said conveyor tomove a sheet through the delivery run to a release position over a pilefor receiving sheets at the exit end of said delivery run and thenthrough said reversing section, first means adjacent said delivery runpositionable in different positions to respectively efiect the releaseof a sheet at said release position and permit the carrying of a sheetpast said release position and into said reversing section of saidconveyor including sheet guide means having positions on opposite sidesof said path for guiding a sheet to and past said pile positionrespectively, sheet advancing means adjacent said exit end of saidconveyor for moving a sheet being carried by said conveyor past saidrelease position and through said reversing section outwardly away fromsaid reversing section as it moves through the latter to cause the tailof the sheet to clear said sheet guide means at an advanced time in thecycle of said mechanism.

3. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip the leadingedge of a sheet and to move through the delivery run to move the sheetalong a sheet path to a release position over a pile at the exit end ofthe delivery run, means at said release position for selectively causingthe dropping of a sheet at said release position or the movement of asheet past said release position into said reversing section comprisingsheet guide means having positions above and below the path of sheetmovement for respectively guiding a sheet to said pile and guiding asheet past the release position, and means adjacent said reversingsection for directing a blast of air against a sheet moving through saidreversing section to move it outwardly of the reversing section.

4. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end or" saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip the leadingedge of a sheet and move it along a sheet path adjacent said conveyor tomove a sheet through the delivery run to a release position over a pilefor receiving sheets at the exit end of said delivery run and into andthrough said reversing section, first means adjacent said delivery runpositionable in different positions to respectively eiiect the releaseof a sheet at said release position and the carrying of a sheet pastsaid release position and into said reversing section including sheetguiding means having positions on opposite sides of the path or" sheetmovement in said delivery run for guiding a sheet to and past said pileposition, sheet advancing means adjacent said exit end of said conveyorfor moving a sheet being carried past said release position and throughsaid reversing section of said conveyor outwardly away from saidreversing section as it moves through the latter to cause the tail ofthe sheet to clear said sheet guide means at an advanced time in thecycle of said mechanism, control means for said first means operable intimed relation to the approach of a sheet to said release position toposition said first means to cause the sheet to bypass said pile and asthe following sheet approaches the release position to position saidfirst means to effect a releasing of the following sheet at releaseposition and to initiate the operation of said sheet-advancing means.

5. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip the leadingedge of a sheet and to move through the delivery run to move the sheetalong a sheet path to a release position over a pile at the eidt end ofthe delivery run, first means at said release position positionable indifferent positions to respectively cause the dropping of a sheet atsaid release position and the movement of a sheet past said releaseposition and into said reversing section comprising sheet guide meanshaving positions above and below the path of sheet movement forrespectively guiding a sheet to said pile and guiding a sheet past therelease position, sheet advancing means adjacent said reversing sectionfor directing a blast of air against a sheet moving through saidreversing section, control means for said first means operable in timedrelation to the approach of a sheet to said release position to positionsaid first means to cause the sheet to bypass said pile and as thefollowing sheet approaches the release position to position said firstmeans to edect a releasing of the following sheet at the releaseposition and to initiate the operation of said sheet advancing means.

6. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section for reversing thedirection of movement of the conveyor, spaced gripper means on theconveyor each adapted to grip the leading edge of a sheet and to movethrough the delivery run to move the sheet along a sheet path to arelease position over a pile at the exit end of said delivery run, a camat said release position positionable between positions for respectivelycausing the dropping of a sheet at said release position and themovement of a sheet past said release position, sheet guide means havingpositions above and below the path of sheet movement for respectivelyguiding a sheet to said pile and guiding a sheet past the releaseposition, and sheet advancing means adjacent said delivery run foradvancing the tail of a sheet being carried past said release positionto cause the tail to clear the sheet guide means at an advanced time inthe operating cycle, operating means for said cam and said sheet guidemeans normally positioning said cam and guide means to effect a deliveryof a sheet to said pile, control means for said operating meanscomprising switching means actuated each time a sheet approaches therelease position, and circuit means conditionable to efiect a movementof said cam and guide means to cause a sheet to bypass said pile on thenext actuation of said switching means and on the following actuation ofsaid switching means to eiiect movement of said cam and guide means totheir pile delivery positions and to effect the operation of said sheetadvancing means.

7. A delivery mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said circuit meansincludes a stepping switch responsive to the actuation of said switchingmeans.

8. A delivery mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said conveyorincludes a reversing section adjacent the exit end of said delivery runand said sheet advancing means comprises means for directing air againstthe sheet as it moves through the reversing section to move the sheetoutwardly of the reversing section.

9. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip the leadingedge of a sheet and to move through the delivery run to move the sheetalong a sheet path to a release position over a pile at the exit end ofsaid delivery run, a cam at said release position selectivelypositionable at respective positions for respectively causing thedropping of a sheet at said release position and the movement of a sheetpast said release position into said reversing section, sheet guidefingers having positions above and below the path of sheet movement forrespectively guiding a sheet to said pile and guiding a sheet past therelease position, sheet advancing means adjacent said reversing sectionfor directing a blast of air against a sheet moving through saidreversing section to move the sheet outwardly of the reversing sectionto advance the tail portion thereof to clear said sheet guide fingers atan advanced time in the cycle of the mechanism.

10. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery runmoving in one direction and a reversing section at the exit end of saiddelivery run for reversing the direction of movement of the conveyor,spaced gripper means on the conveyor each adapted to grip a sheet and tomove through the delivery run to move the sheet along a sheet pathadjacent to the delivery run to a sheet release position at the exit endof said delivery run, each of said gripping means including an'armactuatable to effect a release of a sheet gripped by the gripping means,a cam adjacent the exit end of said delivery run adapted to engage andactuate said arm of each of said gripping means as the gripping meansmoves past the cam to effect a release of the sheet gripped thereby,means supporting said cam for rocking movement about an axis extendinggenerally parallel to the direction of movement of said sheet-grippingmeans to said release position, a plurality of stripper fingers spacedtransversely of said sheet path at said release position and having endsextending toward said sheets as the sheetsrapproach said releaseposition, means supporting said stripper fingers for movement betweenpositions above said sheet path for guiding the sheets released at saidrelease position to a pile position and a position below said sheet pathfor guiding sheets past said release position, operating means foractuating said cam and stripper fingers between their positions toselectively cause a sheet to pass said release position and thefollowing sheet to be released at said release position, and sheetadvancing means adjacent the exit end of said delivery run for advancingthe tail of a sheet being carried past said release position by saidgripping means to clear said fingers at an advanced time.

11. A delivery mechanism as defined in claim wherein said sheetadvancing means comprises means for directing a blast of air against asheet moving through the reversing section to move the sheet outwardlyof the reversing section. a

12, In a delivery mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein control meansis selectively actuated each time a sheet approaches said releaseposition and includes means for selectively efiecting actuationpof saidoperating means to move said fingers below said path iniresponse to afirst actuation of said control means and the initiation of saidadvancing means and the raising of said fingers in response to the nextactuation of said control means by the following sheet and to asubsequent actuation of said control means for rendering said advancingmeans lnoperative.

13. A delivery mechanism having a conveyor adapted to move sheetsthrough a delivery run and deliver sheets through a horizontal sheetpathttoia pile position, said conveyor having a reversing section of theside of said pile position remote from the side of sheet approach, arockshaft on said remote side of said pile position extending across thesheet path and parallel to the plane thereof, stripper fingers on saidshaft rocked by the rocking thereof between positions above and belowthe sheet path to guide a sheet respectively to and past the pileposition, a solenoid connected to rock said shaft, 21 sheetrelease camadjacent said pile position having a position for causing a release of asheet at said pile position and a position wherein the cam isineffective to effect a release of the sheet, means supporting said camfor rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to the direaction of sheetmovement to said pile position to move the cam between its saidpositions, a pivoted lever rockable between two positions, gear teeth onsaid cam, gear teeth on one end of said lever meshing with the teeth onsaid cam to effect a rotation of said cam between ing a delivery run anda run disposed above. said delivery run and spaced gripping means onsaid conveyor each 1:3 adapted to grip the leading edge of a sheet andto move the sheet along the delivery run to a release position, a cam atsaid release position adapted to efiFect a release of each of saidgripping means as it passes the cam to effect a dropping of the sheet,means supporting said cam comprising means supporting said cam betweensaid runs and for rotation about an axis parallel to said delivery runat said release position, a plurality of stripper fingers spaced acrossthe sheet path and extending toward a sheet being delivered to therelease position, a rockshaft connecting said fingers and rockable toswing said fingers to move the fingers from a position above the sheetpath to a position below the sheet path, gear teeth rotatable with saidcam, means connecting said rockshaft to said cam to operate said cam androckshaft simultaneously comprising a reciprocable member having gearteeth adapted to mesh with the gear teeth rotatable with said cam torotate the latter about said axis upon reciprocation of saidreciprocable member and means interconnecting said reciprocable memberand said rockshaft whereby said reciprocable member is reciprocated onthe rocking of said rockshaft, and means for selectively operatim saidrockshaft.

15. In a delivery mechanism, a conveyor means having a delivery sectionfor moving a sheet past a release position and a reversing section intoand through which a sheet moves after passing said release position forreversing the direction of movement of the sheet, means for effecting arelease of the sheet at said release position and the carrying of asheet past said release position into and through said reversing sectionselectively, sheet guide means at said release position having positionson opposite sides of the path of sheet movement through the deliverysection of said conveyor means for respectively guiding a sheet movingpast said release position and a sheet being released at said releaseposition, the sheet guide means being disposed adjacent said reversingsection whereby a sheet will overlie said guide means while at leastpart of the sheet is moving through said reversing section, and sheetadvancing means for advancing the tail portion of a sheet being moved bysaid conveyor means through said reversing section to cause the tailportion of the sheet to clear the sheet guide means at a time in thecycle of the mechanism in advance of the time that the tail portionwould clear the sheet guide means due to operation of the conveyormeans. 7 a

16. In a delivery mechanism, the combination as defined in claim 15wherein said sheet advancing means comprises means for directing a blastof air against a sheet being moved through said reversing section ofsaid conveyor means to move the sheet outwardly of the reversingsection.

17. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery run anda run disposed above said delivery run and spaced gripping means on saidconveyor each adapted to grip. the leading edge of a respective sheet tomove the sheet along the delivery run to arelease position, a cam atsaid release position adapted to effect a release of each of saidgripping means asit passes the cam to effect a dropping of the sheet, arod rotatably supporting said cam between said runs for rotation aboutan axis parallel to said delivery run at said release position formovement between a position effective to effect a release of saidgripping means and an inactive position ineffective to release saidgripping means, said cam being slidable on said rod along said axis,means for rocking said cam about said axis and maintained in operativerelationship with said cam as the latter is moved along said axis, andadjusting means operatively connected to said cam to shift the latterlengthwise of said rod, said means for rocking said cam comprising gearmeans connected to said cam to effect a rotation thereof about saidaxis.

18. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery run anda run disposed above said delivery run and spaced gripping means on saidconveyor each adapted to grip the leading edge of a respective sheet andmove the sheet along the delivery run to a release position, a cam atsaid release position adapted to efiect a release of each of saidgripping means as it passes the cam to eifect a dropping of the sheet,means supporting said cam between said runs for rotation about an axisparallel to said delivery run at said release position and for movementalong said axis to adjust said cam for different types of sheets, andmeans for rocking said cam about said axis and maintained in operativerelationship with said cam as it is adjusted along said axis comprisinga reciprocable member having gear teeth adapted to mesh with gear teethon said carn to rotate the latter upon reciprocation of said member,said gear teeth on said cam and reciprocable member being relativelyslidable parallel to said axis.

19. A delivery mechanism comprising a conveyor having a delivery run anda run disposed above said delivery run and spaced gripping means on saidconveyor each adapted to grip the leading edge of a respective sheet tomove the sheet along the delivery run to a release position, a cam atsaid release position adapted to eifect a release of each of saidgripping means as it passes the cam to efiect a dropping of the sheet, asupport member for said cam for supporting said cam between said runs,mounting means mounting said cam on said support member for swingingmovement about an axis parallel to said delivery run at the releaseposition and supporting the cam for movement between positions in whichsaid cam is eiiective and ineffective to release said gripping means,said support member and said mounting means supporting said cam formovement along said run, a movable member for effecting a swingingmovement of said cam between its said positions, means operativelyconnecting said movable member to said cam and maintaining an operativerelationship between said cam and movable member as said cam is movedalong said run, and adjusting means connected to said cam and operableto move the latter along said run.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,143 11/26White 271-64 X 1,646,529 10/27 Fallot 27179 1,879,095 9/32 Claybourn271-79 1,968,166 7/34 Pythian et a1. 10l-233 X FOREIGN PATENTS 497,42612/38 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Acting Primary Examiner.

EUGENE R. CAlOZIO, ERNEST A. FALLER, 111.,

Examiners.

1. A DELIVERY MECHANISM COMPRISING A CONVEYOR HAVING A DELIVERY RUNMOVING IN ONE DIRECTION AND A REVERSING SECTION AT THE EXIT END OF SAIDDELIVERY RUN FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OFF MOVEMENT OF THE CONVEYOR,SPACED GRIPPER MEANS ON THE CONVEYOR EACH ADAPTED TO GRIP A SHEET ANDMOVE THROUGH THE DELIVERY RUN TO MOVE THE SHEET ALONG A SHEET PATH TO ARELEASE POSITION AT THE END OF TEH DELIVERY RUN AND OVER A PILE TO WHICHSHEETS ARE TO BE DELIVERED, FIRST MEANS AT THE EXIT END OF SAID DELIVERYRUN FOR CAUSING A SHEET TO BE DELIVERED TO SAID PILE OR TO SELECTIVELYBYPASS SAID PILE AND MOVVE THROUGH SAID REVERSING SECTION COMPRISINGSHEET GUIDE MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN A PILE DELIVERY POSITION ABOVE SAIDPATH AND A BYPASS POSITIONN BELOW SAID PATH, THE TAIL OF A SHEET BEINGCARRIED THROUGH SAID REVERSING SECTION CLEARING SAID SHEET GUIDE MEANSDUE TO MOVEMENT IMPARTED TO IT BY